The Schwan Food Co., Marshall, Minn., names Dimitrios Smyrnios CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Gregory Flack.

“After a thorough and deliberate search process, the board of directors concluded that Dimitrios Smyrnios is the right leader to strengthen our company moving forward,” says Allan Schuman, chairman of the board. “He is a proven leader with a strong track record in profitably growing businesses. Importantly, he is deeply familiar with our business, having spent his entire career in the food industry in leadership positions at PepsiCo and Nestle S.A.”

Smyrnios began his career with the Frito-Lay division at PepsiCo, where he spent eight years in progressive roles with sales and marketing. In 1993, Smyrnios joined Nestle Waters North America in Southern California. During his tenure, he had progressive roles of responsibility and eventually was executive vice president and general manager of the Nestle Waters Home & Office Division and the Retail Division. He spent the last year with Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream Division as president.

“I am honored that the board has chosen me to lead The Schwan Food Co. into the future,” Smyrnios says. “Schwan is a market leader with an extraordinary strong heritage, and I look forward to working with the talented team of people who have helped make the company an iconic name in the food industry.”

Source: Business Wire